“It is a matter of life and death to these men and women. Again, I’ve met some of these individuals. They have cancer. They won’t be with us too much longer. They need help. It’s just that simple. They need help. Some of them might be saved. Others need all the care they can get. But this is happening right now,” said De Blasio on Monday.

“Every day we wait means we’re not doing everything we can to get these people help,” De Blasio added. “If this research doesn’t happen and this information doesn’t get to Mount Sinai, it means we’re not going to be able to get federal help to these men and women who deserve it.”

He pointed out that the FDNY and other agencies have provided the specific information but is accusing the Bloomberg administration of foot dragging.